MMA: Featherweight fights complete ONE: Valor of Champions card

Three featherweight bouts have been added to the ONE: Valor of Champions card in Manila.

March 27, 2015: Five Filipinos will feature in ONE: Valor of Champions in Manila on April 24 following the confirmation of three featherweight fights on the eight-bout card.

The undefeated Jimmy Yabo will take on Edward Kelly in all-Filipino clash, China’s Wang Yawei will return to the cage against Indonesia’s Sunoto, while Shannon Wiratchai of Thailand takes on Amir Khan of Singapore. Khan will be eager for action after his scheduled fight with Florian Garel in Kuala Lumpur this month was cancelled after his opponent suffered a pre-fight injury.

In the headline bout, Luis Santos of Brazil will challenge American star Ben Askren for the ONE welterweight belt, while Filipino star Mark Striegl will make his ONE debut against American Casey Suire in the co-headliner.

Luis Santos will challenge Ben Askren for the welterweight belt, after Mark Striegl makes his ONE debut.

Victor Cui, CEO OF ONE Championship, said: “ONE: Valor of Champions is set to be the biggest night of mixed martial arts action in the Philippines.

“The main event will feature two of the top welterweights in the world when the best wrestler in mixed martial arts, Ben Askren, takes on 61-win veteran Luis Santos. Get ready for a night of adrenaline-pumping, heart-stopping mixed martial arts action as ONE: Valor of Champions goes live around the world.”

Yabo boasts the best knockout percentage in the division, having finished all four of his opponents by knockout, while Kelly is the younger brother of ONE Championship standout Eric Kelly

Wang, originally from Hubei province, was considered one of the top wrestlers in China before moving to Thailand to train in Muay Thai, and in December reached the final of ONE: Dynasty of Champions Beijing Featherweight Tournament. Sunoto is a kickboxing champion from Indonesia and remains undefeated in MMA, having won two prior bouts in his native Indonesia.

Khan, who has won his first two fights on ONE, earned a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt under Relson Gracie, and also has competitive wrestling and Muay Thai experience. Shannon is the top featherweight to emerge from Thailand and has shown an aggressive, brawling style every time he steps into the cage, making him a favourite among fans.